the upper one being 100 feet above, and the lower 180 feet below the middle tunnel or Black drift, as it is called. The drifts have been run 500 feet in the lode, and the depth of the workings perpendicularly is 520 feet.

The pay-rock has been found in seven chimneys, which are from 40 to 100 feet in length horizontally, and are separated by barren streaks from 4 to 6 feet long in the drifts. The pay chutes dip 45° to the southeast; but the dip is less regular on the under than on the upper side of the chute. The richest deposit is found along the foot wall, and a small streak of pay is found along the foot wall in the barren chutes. The Josephine ore has usually been worked with that from the Pine Tree in the Benton mill, so that separate accounts have not been kept of most of the workings. The Josephine vein is considered a branch of the mother quartz lode, from which it separates at the Josephine mine, running northwestward nearly parallel with the main vein. At a distance of half a mile from the fork they are about 300 feet apart. Although the mine is now lying idle, miners say that there is a large quantity of $20 rock in sight.

The indigo vein, so called because of the peculiar blue color of the rock, is 4 feet wide, and 450 feet west of the Josephine mine. The vein stone is talcose, and in places is rich in gold. It is called India-rubber rock by the miners, and is difficult to break with the hammer, but tears out well when blasted. The vein has not been opened, but a tunnel has been run through it, and it has been prospected a little in. spots on the surface.

MARIPOSA. The Mariposa mine is situated on the eastern border of the town of Mariposa, on the Mariposa lode, the direction of which is nearly east and west, the dip 51° south, and the width of the main vein from four to eight feet. Near the mill the vein forks, one prong running westward in the line of the maine lode, and the other running north of west. At a distance of 300 yards from the forks, the two prongs are not more than 60 yards apart. Each fork is about 3 feet thick. The rock is a white ribbon quartz; the walls are a black talcose slate. There is but little gouge, and the quartz is so hard that no progress can be made without blasting. East of the fork the gold is in fine particles, and is evenly distributed through the pay chute, while west of the fork the gold is collected in rich pockets, which are separated from one another by large masses of very poor quartz. These pockets contain almost invariably arseniurets of iron, accompanied by pyrites. The presence of these minerals is considered a certain sign that a good deposit of gold is not far distant. One pocket paid $30,000, another $15,000, and numerous other sums, varying from $100 to $1,000. The great richness of the vein is proved by the facts that the decomposed quartz at the surface was worked or washed for a distance of half a mile, the ravines immediately below the lode were famous for their richness, and drifts have been run a quarter of a mile under ground. It is said before Fremont obtained possession, squatters took $200,000 from the mine. The quartz taken out in 1864 averaged $25 per ton; but afterwards the average yield was only $11. Persons familiar with the mine say an abundance of rock might be obtained to yield $12 or $15. Before the sale of the grant to the Mariposa company the mine was leased to Mr. Barnett, who paid 10 per cent. of the gross yield, a very good share, and afterwards when he was told that he could not have the property on those terms he offered to pay 30 per cent. of the gross yield, and to give good bonds. His offer was rejected, and the mine is now idle. Mr. Barnett worked the mine on a very economical plan. His stamps had wooden stems; he amalgamated in arrastras, and his mortar was fed from a hopper or self-feeder. Little hand labor was done in the mill in the daytime, and none at all at night. Indeed, everybody left the mill at supper time, and it was allowed to run without supervision till morning. The quartz was taken out under Barnett's directions, who having spent many years at the place was thoroughly familiar with it; and before going to the mill, all the barren pieces were rejected. It was supposed that the mine would pay better if it were worked on a larger scale, so the mill that had

stood at the Green Gulch mill of 40 stamps was moved to the Mariposa mine in 1864, in accordance with the recommendations of Professor Ashburner. Professor Silliman, in a report made in May, 1864, said:

I feel convinced that the Mariposa vein is, on the whole, the most remarkable auriferous vein yet developed on the Mariposa estate, and if the half which is believed of it by those who know it best should prove true, it will alone almost sustain the estate. The mill now erecting in Mariposa creek is the same which has been removed from Green Gulch, where, as it proved, there was no further use for it. Mr. Ashburner having examined and reported approvingly on this removal, I have not felt it needful to re-examine the evidence, the decision undoubtedly being a wise one. The fault of the other mills (except the Princeton) of being set too low has been remedied here, and with a well-considered system of amalgamation, there can be no doubt that excellent results will be arrived at in working the mill in its new and well-chosen position, nor can there be any doubt that the mill will receive an ample supply of quartz to engage it fully in crushing.

The gross yield of the mine in 1864 was $84,948; but there was no profit, and among the intelligent miners in the neighborhood there is much doubt whether enough pay quartz could be obtained to keep a 40-stamp mill going.

Messrs. Wakelec and Garnett in their report on the grant say:

The Mariposa vein we examined more particularly, as it has been quite celebrated for the extraordinary richness of its pockets of massive gold. The vein consists of a main trunk and two branches. It is in the latter that these deposits have been found. They have not been worked upon any regular system, but have been much burrowed into by different parties in quest of these rich pockets. The quartz itself is almost entirely destitute of any trace of metal, and its value seems to consist entirely of these massive deposits. It is needless to add, perhaps, that from this peculiarity it furnishes a very uncertain basis for any extensive system of mining. The main trunk of this vein differs from its branches, and the quartz found in it is uniformly charged with the metal. The ores yield, according to the best information we could obtain, about $16 per ton.

GREEN GULCH.-The Green Gulch mine, in the vicinity of the Princeton, has been explored by a shaft 200 feet deep, and by drifts running 400 feet borizontal, and the conclusion is that the deposits of auriferous quartz are not sufficiently near together to pay for working. The vein is about three feet thick, but the quartz is mixed in places with slate, which reduces the yield to a point so low that there is no margin for profit.. Some rich bunches of rock have been found, and under the encouragement given by them a 40-stamp mill was erected, and new explorations were undertaken; but the rich bunches were too far apart, and the mill was afterwards removed to the Mariposa mine. The yield of the Green Gulch mine in 1864 was $19,509. In December, 1863, while the rock was yielding $38 per ton, an assay of the tailings showed that they contained 86 50 per ton.

OTHER MINES ON THE MARIPOSA ESTATE.-The Oso mine, half a mile from Bear valley, is in a very narrow vein of decomposed talcose matter, running across the slates. It was very rich near the surface, and according to rumor the sum of $400,000 was taken from a shaft 50 feet deep and 7 feet long on the vein. No work has been done at the place for years.

The New Britain or Missouri mine is two miles northwest of the town of Mariposa. The vein averages about two feet and a half thick, runs east and west, dips to the south, and can be traced on the surface by croppings for four or five miles. The vein stone is a soft white and yellow quartz, which breaks up like slaked lime when exposed to the air. The walls are of hard black slate. The only pay chimney which has been worked dips to the east with an angle of 50°. The quartz in this chute has been taken out to a depth of 80 feet, and it contained a number of very rich pockets, one of which was taken out by Mr. Barnett, and yielded $52,000, at an expense of $5,000. In one day and a half he took out $9,000. Professor Silliman it is says a very promising vein."

66

The Mt. Ophir mine is on the mother or Pine Tree lode; has been worked extensively, and never rivalled the Princeton, Pine Tree, Josephine or Mariposa mine in the amount of production. The yield in 1864 was $12,540. Ophir mill has 28 stamps, now idle.

The Mt.

MARIPOSA MILLS.-The Benton mills, built to work the quartz from the Pine Tree and Josephine mines, stands in a deep cañon on the Mercer river, by the water of which they were driven; but the dam which supplied the water was carried off by a flood, and the mills have been standing idle. The number of stamps is 64.

The Bear Valley mill has 12 stamps. At this mill the Lundgren pulverizer and the Ryerson amalgamator are now being used.

The Lundgren pulverizer is a barrel five feet in diameter and three feet in length, made of boiler iron three-eighths of an inch thick, heavily riveted. Inside, the barrel is shod with iron shoes an inch thick. A door a foot wide and two feet long is placed lengthwise on the side of the barrel. There are two of these barrels at the Bear Valley mill, and the cost of the two with their gearing was $2,300; but if many were demanded they could no doubt be made for $1,000 each. The barrels revolve horizontally, making 24 revolutions per minute, and requiring a six-horse power engine for two of them. A charge is 800 pounds of quartz and 2,400 pounds of ounce musket balls made of chilled iron. The quartz, previous to going into the barrel, is crushed to about the size of grains of wheat, and after being in the barrel one hour comes out an impalpable powder, as fine as the finest flour. The powder is so fine that if it were pounded dry in the open air much of it would float away. The thoroughness of the pulverization is claimed to be the great advantage of this machine.

The quartz powder is transferred from the barrel into the Ryerson amalgamator, an upright barrel, made of strong boiler iron, with a bottom shaped like an inverted cone, round which winds a pipe pierced with a number of little holes. The barrel being charged and closed, superheated steam is thrown in and then quicksilver, which is converted into vapor and made to pervade the whole mass. A cold bath condenses the quicksilver, and the charge is discharged into a shaking table or settler.

The amount worked daily by these processes is nine tons of Josephine ore, and the yield varies from $39 to $173 per ton, with an average of $45, at an expense of $6 50 per ton. The rock thus worked is taken without selection from the pay chimney, and the body of ore now in sight, and presumed to be of the same quality, is 280 feet high, 45 feet wide longitudinally on the same vein, and 3 feet thickan amount equivalent to 940 tons. It is presumed that the body of the quartz of that quality is much more extensive, both horizontally and vertically, than the present shafts have gone.

The mills of the Mariposa estate are the Benton, 64 stamps; the Mariposa, 28 stamps; the Mount Ophir, 28 stamps; the Princeton, 24 stamps, and the Bear valley, 12 stamps-making 156 stamps in all.

The yield of the estate was $474,000 in 1860; $642,000 in 1861; $522,000 in 1862; $385,000 (with $50,000 net per month) in the first five months of 1863; $481,832 in 1864; and $230,000 in 1865. During the first half of 1867 the mines and mills all stood idle; but of late a little work has been done with the Ryerson and Lundgren processes.

The Stockton creek mill, used by Mr. Barnett for working the quartz of the Mariposa mine while he was lessee, contains ten stamps, with square wooden stems and wooden collars, driven by water and a wooden wheel. There was a self-feeder or hopper to supply the batteries with quartz, and the pulp, after leaving the mortar, was ground in an arrastra. The mill is a mile east of Mariposa, and has been idle for two years.

HUNTER'S VALLEY, Oaks and Reese.-The Oaks and Reese mine, called also the Potts, is 3,000 feet long, in Hunter's valley, 16 miles northwest of the county seat. The claim includes two veins, 1,200 feet on one which runs northeast and southwest and dips to the southeast at an angle of 65°, and 1,600 feet on another which runs northeast and southwest. The former is one of a series of parallel veins; the latter is known as the Blue Lead, and it is remarkable,

because the numerous cross leads running at right angles are found only south of it, and appear to be cut off by it. The Blue Lead is nearly vertical, from 12 to 30 inches wide, yields $45 to the ton, and has been opened to a depth of 165 feet and a length of 150 feet. The other vein is six feet wide, yields $20 to the ton, has been opened to a depth of 165 feet, and to a length of 50 feet. The mine has been worked with a four-stamp mill, but a new twelve-stamp mill has been erected, and it began to run on the 7th of October. The copper aprons below the battery are plated with silver, with which mercury forms an amalgam more readily than with copper, and the apron will be in the highest state of efficiency immediately, whereas several weeks' time would be required if the surface were of copper. The plating is done by galvanism and cost $5 per square foot. Baux and Guiod's pans are used for grinding. The mill is driven by steam, and also the hoisting apparatus. The quartz is let down from the month of the mine to the mill in a tramway, and the loaded cars as they go down' pull up the empty ones. The transportation does not cost more than $1 50 per day. The yield of the mine has been $30,000. A patent has been applied for. The Floyd mine on one of the southern spurs of the Blue Lead has paid well, but now produces nothing.

The same remark applies to the Carson mine, which has a five-stamp 'mill standing idle.

EPPERSON.-The Epperson mine on Bear creek, six miles east is on a vein which runs east and west and dips to the north. 60 feet deep, and a drift 20 feet long has been run on the lode. have been worked, and the yield was from $9 to $13 per ton. stamp mill which, with the mine, is standing idle.

of Coulterville, There is a shaft About 200 tons There is a nine

BLACK.-The Black mine is sixteen miles eastward from Coulterville, on the Blue Lead, which runs east and west and dips to the south. The hanging wall is mountain limestone and the foot wall yellow slate, and the vein stone contains marble. The average yield is about $40 per ton, or was for all the work done. The mine has been standing idle now for several years on account of the water, which at times has risen nearly to the surface. A shaft was sunk to a depth of 170 feet. There is no mill; all the crushing was done with an arrastra.

FERGUSON.-The Ferguson mine, 25 miles eastward from Coulterville, has been worked five or six years. The ore yields from $25 to $100 per ton, and is worked in a ten-stamp mill driven by water.

LOUISIANA. The Louisiana mine, ten miles eastward from Coulterville, is 3,600 feet long, on a vein that runs northwest and southeast, dips to the northeast, and has a width varying from 2 to 16 feet. The quartz contains sulphurets of iron, zinc and lead. The free gold amounts to $6 or $8 per ton. The vein has been opened to a depth of 140 feet and a length of 130 feet by drifts from the bottom of the main shaft; but there are a number of shafts 15 or 20 feet deep, and gold has been found in all of them. The ore is easily extracted, but the slate walls require much timber to support them. Along the foot wall there is a streak of soft yellow sandstone six or eight inches thick. The mine makes much water, and at the first of June the pump hoisted 37,000 gallons daily. There is a 10-stamp mill which has lain idle for several years, but has lately commenced to run again.

FLANNIGAN.-The Flannigan mine, 10 miles eastward from Coulterville, was discovered in July, 1861, near the summit of a ridge, at an elevation of about 3,000 feet above the sea. A miner working a placer claim in a gulley found a rich spot, where he picked up, among other pieces, a nugget that weighed an ounce and a boulder as large as a man's head containing $87. He searched for a quartz vein and found this one. It runs north and south, cuts across the slates, dips to the west, and is five feet wide. There are smooth slate walls on both sides, and there is a putty gouge three inches thick. All the rock so far found is rich enough to pay, and the average yield is $35. The mine has been worked

with an arrastra for six years, but there are now 500 tons of ore stacked up at the mouth of the tunnel, and preparations are being made for the erection of a ten-stamp mill. The quartz is taken out through a cross tunnel 175 feet long, and from that drifts have been run 225 feet on the vein, and a shaft has been sunk 50 feet. A horse is found in one part of the lode. The quartz is white, and much of it slakes when exposed to the air. The crushing has been done heretofore by two arrastras, and the total expense per ton has been less than $5. The cost of crushing and amalgamating in the arrastra is estimated at $3 50 per ton, and of extraction at $1.

COWARD. The Coward mine, 12 miles eastward from Coulterville, was located in 1858, and has been worked constantly since. The first owner, a Mr. Funk, fell from the wheel the day the mill started, and was killed by the fall. H. G. Coward is the present owner. The vein runs east and west, dips to the north at an angle of 45°, and is four feet wide in the middle of the pay chimneys, which become narrower gradually in each direction horizontally as they pinch out. These chimneys are two in number, each about 100 feet long, and they dip to the east at an angle of 40°. The width is very regular in going down with the dip. They had been worked to a depth of 170 feet. The walls are of smooth black slate, and there is a black putty gouge. Most of the gold is found near one wall or the other, and sometimes on both, but in places where a horse is found in the vein the gold is all confined to one side. The average yield is, and has been constantly, about $40 per ton. The quartz contains little pyrites, and the tailings have never been assayed. There is, or was in May, a five-stamp mill, which was to be abandoned, and a new ten-stamp mill was to be erected on the north fork of the Mercede, one mile from the mine. The dam and flume were to cost $600, and the wagon road $1,000. Ten or 12 men were employed. CALICO. The Calico mine, on the same lode as the Cherokee, has been opened by a tunnel 160 feet long, and a drift of 35 feet in pay rock estimated to yield $20 per ton. No mill has been erected, nor has any of the rock been crushed.

COMPROMISE.-The Compromise mine, on a small vein near the Goodwin, was worked for two years with a loss.

MARBLE SPRING.-The Marble Spring mine, 16 miles eastward from Coulterville, was discovered in 1851, and a five-stamp mill was erected there. The first owner found it unprofitable, and he sold to a gentleman who kept it going for seven or eight years, part of the time at a profit, and he sold to others who spent $15,000 in experiments and lost money, though the rock yielded $25 per ton. The mine is now the property of H. G. Coward and others who have lately reopened it. The vein is three feet thick, runs northwest and southeast, and dips to the east. The pay chimney dips to the southeast. The lode contains pockets in which the gold is very coarse, and is distributed in beautiful threads through a compact bluish quartz, making together the finest material for “quartz jewelry” in the State. The main tunnel is 600 feet long. The old mill has been moved away. The mine is at a high elevation, near the summit of a mountain.

CHEROKEE.-The Cherokee mine, near the Goodwin, was discovered by a Cherokee named Rogers, in 1857, and was very rich at the surface. Some of the gold was coarse enough to be pounded out in a hand mortar. The rock worked in arrastras averaged $100 per ton. In 1859 a steam mill with eight stamps and two arrastras was erected, and the rock yielded $35 per ton for about a year, and then work stopped. The mill was sold at sheriff's sale and moved away, and nothing has been done at the place since. The deepest workings were through a tunnel 400 feet long, and another lower tunnel was commenced, but the mine was abandoned before it reached the lode. As the workmen who were employed have all left it is difficult to get any accurate information; but some miners in the neighborhood say that the mine was worked in a careless manner;